Pelargonium plant named ‘Dopelbezsal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Dopelbezsal’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; large salmon pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale X Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPELBEZSAL’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Dec. 2, 2020, application number 2020/3153. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale X Pelargoniumpeltatum, commonly referred to as Interspecific Geranium, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dopelbezsal’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Kako, Ethiopia and De Lier, TheNetherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create newfreely-branching and freely-flowering Pelargonium plants with attractiveleaf and flower coloration.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor during the winter of 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of aproprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as codedesignation PL13-000618-017, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identifiedas code designation PG13-002037-008, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeLier, The Netherlands in June, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands since July, 2016 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopelbezsal’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dopelbezsal’ as a new and distinct Pelargoniumplant:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large salmon pink-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Pelargonium do not have a        discernible leaf zonation pattern whereas leaves of plants of        the female parent selection have a distinct zonation pattern.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Pelargonium have fewer petals        than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower color as plants of the new Pelargonium havesalmon pink-colored flowers whereas plants of the male parent selectionhave white-colored flowers with pink-colored spots.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can also be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Duebezpinimp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.27,852. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Pelargoniumdiffer primarily from plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium are more compact and more        rounded than plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’.    -   2. Plants of the new Pelargonium have smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Duebezpinimp’.    -   3. Plants of the new Pelargonium have smaller inflorescences        than plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Pelargonium are salmon pink in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’ are dark pink        in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Pelargonium plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Dopelbezsal’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 17-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 30°C., night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 20° C. and light levelsaveraged 135 watt/m². Plants were ten weeks old when the photograph wastaken and 13 weeks old when the description was taken. In the detaileddescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale X Pelargonium peltatum    ‘Dopelbezsal’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code designation            PL130-000618-017, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            peltatum identified as code designation PG13-002037-008, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at            temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days            at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            greyish white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and rounded plant            habit; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely            branching habit with about three primary lateral branches            each with about two secondary lateral branches developing            per plant; densely foliated with inflorescences positioned            above the foliar plane.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 8 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 18 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 24 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster:            Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144A.            Color, developed: Close to 199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded and emarginate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Lobate; sinuses medium in depth.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and            fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 147C. Zonation pattern: Not discernible.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large round flowers arranged in rounded            hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels            displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on            position in the umbel.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 64            flowers and flower buds per plant.        -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is            continuous from spring through the summer; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about eight weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Umbel height.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.9 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five to seven in a            single whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Sinuate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 49A; venation, close to 49A;            color becoming closer to 65A with subsequent development.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 69A;            venation, close to 65A; color becoming closer to 65B with            subsequent development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly upright.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color:            Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:            Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Color: Close to 152D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About eleven. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color:            Close to NN155B. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 169A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma            diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma            color: Close to 169A. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color:            Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has            not been observed on plants of the new Pelargonium.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Pelargonium    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Pelargonium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to 45° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named‘Dopelbezsal’ as illustrated and described.